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Bayern draw not ideal - Lucescu

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu would have preferred to avoid Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League last-16 draw.

Published

17 December 2014

The Ukrainian champions are currently playing home matches in Lviv - more than 700 miles from their Donbass Arena stadium - due to political unrest in the east of the country.

Shakhtar qualified from Group H, along with Porto, but were dealt a tough tie with 2013 champions Bayern, and Lucescu says his side could have done with a bit more luck when it came to Monday's draw.

"At this stage of the Champions League, I did not want Real Madrid, as they are the current holders of the trophy, I did not want Barcelona, because we have already played with them many times, and I did not want Bayern," he said.

"Today, Shakhtar are in a difficult situation: without our stadium, without our fans, playing constantly on the road.

"Bayern are one of the strongest teams in Europe, who have incredible support and attract packed stadiums.

"I repeat: I did not want them precisely at this stage.

"Naturally, Bayern are favourites in this duel. But in football anything is possible."